The Midwich Cuckoos: Classic Radio Sci-Fi (Dramatised)

This is a dynamic, modern dramatisation of a classic book by John Wyndham. Bill Nighy (Love Actually and many other films) and Sarah Parish (Cutting It) play Richard and Janet, a couple caught up in the goings-on of a sleepy English village in which all the children have golden eyes, blond hair, and a sinister talent for telepathy and telekinesis. (Wyndham's novel was filmed as Village of the Damned in 1960 and 1995.)

The Kraken Wakes

Journalist Mike Watson and his wife, Phyllis, trace it back to the strange showering lights they noticed on the final day of their honeymoon cruise; lights which appeared to land and disappear into the water. Reports mount of similar sightings all over the world. Governments embark on missions to investigate the sea, but ships disappear and diving crews never return to the surface. Something deep in the ocean does not want to be disturbed.

The Hobbit (Dramatised)

The radio dramatisation of The Hobbit became a classic when it was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1968 and it continues to delight today. Tolkien's famous saga, the prelude to the Lord of the Rings, has all the ingredients of fantasy and adventure: dwarves, elves, goblins and trolls, a fearsome dragon, a great wizard, a perilous quest, and a dramatic climax.

Classic Radio Sci-Fi: The Time Machine (Dramatised)

It opens in 1943, when Wells is recording a talk for the Home Service in which he questions mankind's future. After the broadcast, he spends the evening with American journalist Martha, and tells her the astonishing news that his bestselling book The Time Machine was not fantasy but fact. Wells explains that he was actually present at the dinner party in Richmond fifty years earlier, when the Time Traveller returned from his first fateful journey into the future.

Earthsearch: The Complete Radio Series I and II (Dramatised)

The acclaimed BBC Radio 4 space drama arrives in its entirety for the very first time, with a bonus introduction by creator and writer James Follett. The starship Challenger has been on a 115-year-long mission, exploring other galaxies for suitable Earth-like planets to colonise. The present crew of four were born on the ship and have never left it. But when the Challenger attempts to return to the crew's home planet, it discovers that the Earth has vanished!

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (Dramatised)

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of the second book in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brian Sibley's famous 1981 adaptation, starring Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King (Dramatised)

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of the third book in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brian Sibley's famous 1981 adaptation, starring Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm.

It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying.... When most of the world's population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces. Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again....

The Massacre of Mankind

It has been 14 years since the Martians invaded England. The world has moved on, always watching the skies but content that we know how to defeat the Martian menace. Machinery looted from the abandoned capsules and war machines has led to technological leaps forward. The Martians are vulnerable to earth germs. The army is prepared. So when the signs of launches on Mars are seen, there seems little reason to worry. Unless you listen to one man, Walter Jenkins, the narrator of Wells' book.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of the first book in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brian Sibley's famous 1981 adaptation, starring Ian Holm and Michael Hordern, has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm.

Earthsea: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation based on the first three books in Ursula Le Guin's best-selling Earthsea cycle. Set on a vast archipelago of islands where magic is a central part of life, Earthsea tells the intertwined stories of Ged and Tenar. Ged is a boy from the island of Gont, born with innate magical talent and a reckless nature, who tampers with long-held secrets and releases a terrible shadow into the world. He must risk everything in order to restore the balance....

Journey into Space: Operation Luna, Episodes 1-13

Charles Chilton's classic science-fiction trilogy stormed the BBC airwaves during the 1950s. Its gripping story lines, extra-terrestrial sound effects, and atmospheric music engaged listeners as never before. Between 1953 and 1958, a devoted audience of adults and children attentively followed Captain Jet Morgan and his crew from one cliff-hanger to another as, together, they faced the unknown perils of space.

Journey into Space: The World In Peril, Episodes 1-20

Charles Chilton's classic science-fiction trilogy stormed the BBC airwaves during the 1950s. Its gripping story lines, extra-terrestrial sound effects, and atmospheric music engaged the listener as never before. Between 1953 and 1958, a devoted audience of adults and children attentively followed Captain Jet Morgan and his crew from one cliff-hanger to another as, together, they faced the unknown perils of space.

The Lost World (Dramatised)

This production of The Lost World, based on the novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1975, and amongst the cast are Francis de Wolff, Gerald Harper, Carol Boyd and the renowned radio actor Carleton Hobbs. The story follows a 19th century expedition to enter the rumoured lair of animals thought to have died out millions of years before - a terrifying world of pterodactyls and other 'prehistoric monsters'.

The Chrysalids & Survival: Classic Radio Sci-Fi (Dramatised)

Here's a double bill of John Wyndham stories adapted for radio. The Chrysalids concerns the community of Waknut, where it is believed that mutants are the products of the Devil and must be stamped out. Survival concerns the first auto-piloted space flight. When the ship meets with an accident, the human passengers are cast adrift in space.

Nine episodes of the BBC Radio 4 detective series set in Victorian Edinburgh, starring Brian Cox as Inspector McLevy. In this collection all eight episodes of series 11 and 12 are joined by 'Meet James McLevy', a remake of the original pilot episode. Inspired by the real-life memoirs of one of Scotland's first policemen, the fictional James McLevy prowls the dark streets of 1860s Edinburgh bringing criminals to justice, with the assistance of Constable Mulholland.

Publisher's Summary

When a Martian spacecraft lands on Woking Common, mankind is terrorised by aliens in tall, armoured capsules which stalk the countryside on three legs. The machines wreak havoc on London and the Southern Counties, and survivors are driven underground. Scientist John Nicholson (Paul Daneman) tells how he was plunged into a paralysing nightmare of stark terror, savage madness and utter destruction. Martin Jarvis, Peter Sallis, and Anthony Jackson also feature in this thrilling six-part dramatisation of HG Wells' book, first broadcast on Radio 4 in 1967.

I first listened to this dramatised version of The War Of The Worlds when I was a young lad, my dad recorded it on a very old spool tape recorder. I kept it for years, listening to it when I was aloud to, until the tape recorder broke. To listen to it again just brings back memories. Its the best version available. Thanks Audible, I'm now going to wear my ipod out.

This is a muscular and violent production as radio dramas go and its all the scarier and more vivid for it. The production values are strong and the cast is excellent. I'd give it 4.5 if I could, the only downsides being the slightly melodramatic opening titles and the outdated female character. That said, its still a treat.

I first read the book when I was about 12 and had the attention span of a bored chimp. But the book gripped me in a way that got me told off many times for reading in bed when I should have been sleeping. This audio rendition from the BBC managed to do exactly the same. I switched on my ipod and didn't switch it off until I had listened to all 6 episodes. The actors were excellent in their reading of the script and although not the original time setting the play relayed the fear and excitement that I felt when I originally read the book. The only criticism I have is of the rather over melodramatic title sequences that I felt could have been edited out, this aside I would recommend that any fan of H.C.Wells or indeed War of the Worlds in its many different forms download this without hesitation, they will not be dissapointed.

I might be a little biased as this is one of my favourite stories. It's a great adaptation, I much prefer it to the Orson Welles (although the idea was very interesting, this is just easier to follow and far more gripping in terms of sitting back and relaxing with some entertainment). I listened to a chapter a night before bed and it certainly gave me chills. Some great acting and the sound effects are marvellous.

I felt very involved in the plot, wanted to scream at certain characters. I've listened to it over about three times.

It's great whether or not you know the original or any of the other versions. The story follow a good plot at a great, easy pace and is never dull.

Another interpretation of a rather over dense book, truer than many other retelling said but slightly over wordy, having the cast describe what's happening is a bit old hat but it despite some minor very minor flaws a good way to spend a couple of hours

Fantastic, but hasn't aged particularly well in the old sound effect departments, made me laugh so much but all in a good way. Great to listen to whilst I'm at work! I noticed how at every opportunity there is an obsession with alcohol!... and they say there is a problem with alcohol consumption nowadays! How times have changed. At one point he drinks 2 stiff brandys before going for a drive hahaaaaaa!

Over all I loved it and I've listened to it 4 times already, even the kids were entertained by the 60s style analogue sound effects! All in all, a wonderful story that I have fascinated over since I first became aware of it.

Seen all the films, and I just love this audio story off it. I get right into it, makes me shudder the story and the way it is told is really good I it is one off my favourites I love listening too. Wish there was more off these to get.

This was clearly a serial, which is not the issue. The problem is that the producers left in all the lead in and credits for each installment, which becomes extremely annoying by the end of the recording.

The sounds effects were also a over the top for my taste.

I've heard other recordings of this story that I enjoyed more.

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